SUNDAY’S Merseyside derby at Anfield is a really difficult one to predict. With Liverpool needing a win if they want to finish above Everton and the Blues still looking to qualify for Europe, there is plenty at stake.

We are used to going into derbies hearing about how Everton are going really well but then they fail to turn up.

The Blues were the form team before the game at Anfield last season and were beaten 3-0. Similarly, a month later in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley they threw it away after going 1-0 up.

It has to play on their players’ minds the fact that it’s been 14 years since they last won at Anfield.

I’m sure it affects David Moyes as well. So many times he must have thought ‘this is the one’ but then come away from Anfield disappointed. Everton don’t have a deep squad but they are a strong team with some very good players.

The left sided duo of Leighton Baines and Steven Pienaar come at you non-stop.

They have a style that has the potential to cause us problems. They will push Maraoune Fellaini on and get the ball forward quickly.

Everton certainly won’t stand off and let us play like Newcastle did.

They will have noticed the problems Liverpool have had dealing with crosses into the box.

They also know that Liverpool like to play it out from the back and will press high up the pitch.

What will be crucial is Liverpool’s ability to get the ball to their better players. If Everton fail to stop the service to the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Steven Gerrard then I expect Liverpool to win.

It will certainly be a different type of experience for Coutinho.

I remember my first derby back in 1984 when Graeme Sharp got the winner. I didn’t get a kick! It was played at 100 miles an hour and afterwards I just thought ‘wow, what a way to play for 90 minutes’.

Of course football has changed since then but the derby is still different to other games and winning it still means to much.